ACCESSIBILITY:
Portsmouth Historic Dockyard welcomes all visitors. The site is, however, a working Naval Base and certain areas may present difficulties to visitors who use wheelchairs, with a restricted mobility or who are visually impaired. As a safety precaution, we ask that all these visitors are accompanied by a carer. Toilets for disabled visitors can be found in the Historic Dockyard Coach and Car Park, Boathouse No.7, Victory Arena and the Royal Naval Museum.
Wheelchairs are available free of charge from the Visitor Centre, Mary Rose, HMS Warrior 1860 and Royal Naval Museum. Please call 023 9286 1533 for further information.
The HMS Victory tour involves climbing several flights of fairly steep ladders. A video tour is provided on the Lower Gundeck for visitors who use wheelchairs or those who are unable to walk around the ship. Please ask at the Visitor Centre for the video tour. To reach the ship, follow the Special Access Route to the Victory Arena then proceed around the FRONT of the ship (keeping the ship on your left). Please ask a member of staff at the bottom of the gangway who will be able to provide assistance up the ramp if required.
EDUCATION: A visit to HMS VICTORY and the ROYAL NAVAL MUSEUM includes a 40 minute guided tour of the ship conducted by professional guides, followed by a visit to the Tafalgar Experience and the extensive galleries of the museum. For planning purposes allow at least two hours for your tour and museum visit (Self-guided tours will operate in peak periods. Please contact 023 9282 2034 for further details). During the guided tour your group will be able to find out about Admiral Lord Nelson, the Battle of Trafalgar, gun drills, life on board the ship, food and discipline and the social conditions of the Georgian Navy.
There are regular lecture events, activity days and a special programme for Key Stage 1 children, titled 'Sailor's Home'. This programme encourages children to interact with HMS VICTORY, and through the handling of replica objects, find out about some of the people who lived and worked onboard the ship and of Nelson as a significant individual.
Open
April to October: 10.00-16.50
November to March: 10.00-16.00
Closed
Christmas Eve, Christmas Day & Boxing Day
Admission charges
HMS Victory and the Royal Naval Museum (including the Trafalgar Experience):
Adult £12.50
Senior (60+) £10.00
Child (5-16) £8.00
Family Up to five members of family £32
Portsmouth Historic Dockyard - All Inclusive ticket - open-ended ticket giving one entry to HMS Victory, the Royal Naval Museum, the Mary Rose, HMS Warrior 1860, Action Stations and a Harbour Boat Tour:
Adult £16.50
Senior (60+) £14.00
Child (5-16) £12.00
Family Up to five members of family £48
Further discounts available for groups.
Description
HMS VICTORY is the oldest commissioned warship in the world, and is still manned by Officers and Ratings of the Royal Navy. She is now the flagship of the Second Sea Lord and Commander in Chief Naval Home Command and lies in No 2 Dry Dock at Portsmouth Naval Base, Portsmouth. England.
Victory was designed by Thomas Slade, the Senior Surveyor of the Navy. Her keel was laid down in Chatham on 23 July 1759 and she was launched on 7 May 1765 but was not commissioned until 1778. This long period of weathering meant that the hull timbers were well seasoned, which is probably the main reason why she has survived so long. Once commissioned she became the most successful First Rate ship ever built.
Her excellent sailing qualities made her a very popular choice for use by Admirals as their flagship. Admirals Keppel, Kemperfelt, Howe and Jervis all used her prior to Admiral Lord Nelson when he was Commander in Chief of the Mediterranean Fleet. Even after the Battle of Trafalgar she continued her active career and was involved in two Baltic campaigns under Admiral Saumarez.
Her active career completed on 7 November 1812 when she was then moored in Portsmouth Harbour off Gosport for 110 years fulfilling a number of roles. By 1921 the ship was in a poor state of repair, it was at this point that the Government supported by the Society for Nautical Research agreed that HMS VICTORY should be saved and to be a lasting reminder to the Nation of Admiral Lord Nelson, The Battle of Trafalgar, and the Royal Navy's supremacy in the days of sail.
She was moved into her present dock on 12 January 1922 and since then has been undergoing restoration by the Royal Navy with assistance from the Society for Nautical Research, to return the ship to her Trafalgar design and condition. As well as her naval role she is also a major heritage attraction and attracts over 350,000 visitors each year.
Key artists and exhibits
History of the Georgian Navy, the battle of Trafalgar and Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson
General Information
Brochure or leaflet available with directions to museum
Pre-booking service for groups
Foreign language leaflet or brochure available
Parking for coaches
Guided tours
Disability Access
Braille information and/or interpretation
Toilets for disabled
Touch exhibits and/or handling sessions
Wheelchair access to some public areas
Wheelchairs available for loan
Children and Families
Picnic area
General Education
CD-ROM guide available
Education facilities available
Member of staff available with responsibility for education
Reception and lunch facilities for educational groups
Facilities
Cafeteria
Picnic area
Refreshments
Restaurant
Shop
